WHEN brave Winnie Johnson is laid to rest, her family will leave a space beside her for the son stolen from her by the Moors Murderers.

Winnie, 78, died of cancer at the weekend after 48 harrowing years of looking for 12-year-old Keith Bennett.

But her relatives vowed yesterday to carry on the search and reunite Keith with his mum.

And a source close to Winnie said: “There is a family grave where she wanted to be buried. If Keith was found, which was always the hope, then he would be brought back for a proper burial.”

Winnie died of cancer early on Saturday – as speculation raged that killer Ian Brady had written a letter revealing the location of his body.

Brady’s mental health advocate Jackie Powell, who told a TV interviewer he had given her the letter, has been arrested on suspicion of preventing a lawful burial.

Relatives fear that Winnie’s death will mean Keith is forgotten. They are determined not to let that happen.

Her son Alan wrote on his website, searchingforkeith.com: “Our fear is that, now my mother is no longer with us, this may be seen by the police and media as some sort of closure to the case.

“This must not be allowed to happen, both out of respect for Keith and my mother’s memory, and for those of us who loved them both.”

The family added in a statement: “Winnie fought tirelessly for decades to find Keith and give him a Christian burial.

“Although this was not possible during her lifetime, we, her family, intend to continue this fight for her and for Keith.

“We hope that the authorities and the public will support us in this.”

Keith, who disappeared in 1964, was one of five youngsters abducted and murdered in and around Manchester by Glasgow-born Brady and his lover and accomplice, Myra Hindley.

Brady sexually assaulted the first four victims and buried them on Saddleworth Moor near the city. Keith is the only one still missing, and Alan wrote on his website: “Until he is found, he is still in the possession of Brady and Hindley.”

Prayers were said for Winnie and Keith yesterday in churches across Manchester and well-wishers left messages and cards on Saddleworth Moor.

The note with one bouquet on the moor read: “Keith, we will never stop searching for you and never leave you behind.

“Winnie, we will never forget you.”

Hindley died in prison in 2002, aged 60. Brady, now 74, was declared criminally insane in 1985. He is held at Ashworth secure mental hospital on Merseyside, where Powell looks after his interests.

She ignited the storm over his alleged sealed letter by telling an interviewer from Channel 4’s Cutting Edge that he had given it to her with instructions not to open it until after his death.

Powell said she believed it contained information about Keith’s grave.

Yesterday, she tried to distance herself from the programme, due to be screened tonight at 9pm.